Album reviews: Donald Fagen and Jackson 5

Published: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 06:04 PM.

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The Jackson 5 story didn’t have a happy ending, but the positive vibes that emanate from the “ABC” album stand as a testament to that moment in time when everything — at least on the surface — was perfect.

Jon Dawson’s album reviews appear every Thursday in The Free Press. Contact Jon at 252-559-1092 or jon.dawson@kinston.com. Purchase Jon’s book, ‘Making Gravy in Public,’ at The Free Press office and at jondawson.com.

By the end of the group’s first run of activity, Steely Dan came to be known for ultra-slick studio albums and infrequent to nonexistent live performances. When Fagen and partner Walter Becker rebooted Steely Dan as a touring entity in the mid-1990s, some of the band’s stodgier studio goo was replaced by exuberant live performances.

The reunited band’s two resulting albums of new material (“Two Against Nature” and “Everything Must Go”) benefited from the band’s new-found ability to channel its meticulousness through a prism of spontaneity.

Fagen’s new “Sunken Condos” sounds like a Steely Dan album from top to bottom. It’s a little looser than a Dan record, and in the least demonstrative way it’s almost funky in spots. The clever wordplay and coffee shop-beret smart alecky vibe is still intact on album openers “Slinky Thing” and “I’m Not the Same without You.” Every note is perfectly executed, but these performances sound more like a natural occurrence than a series of surgical procedures.

“Weather in My Head” — at least in Donald Fagen terms — is a straight ahead rock song with a claustrophobic guitar sound so out of step with the times it sounds inventive and fresh. A peculiar cover of Isaac Hayes’ “Out of the Ghetto” somehow manages to sit comfortably next to Fagen’s originals, of which “Miss Marlene” is the contender for possible surprise hit.

“Sunken Condos” sounds so much like Steely Dan it’s a wonder Fagen didn’t team with Becker and release this album under a proven brand name. Nevertheless, “Sunken Condos” is a great, late-in-the-game album from a veteran artist.

Classic album: ABC

Artist: Jackson 5

Label: Motown

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Before the world heard of the demonic ways of their father, the Jackson 5 were simply viewed a music industry phenomenon.

“ABC” is the first album to feature the Jackson 5 as the sole artist. The band’s first lp release — “Diana Ross presents The Jackson 5” — was Motown chief Berry Gordy’s ingenious way of introducing the band to the masses. The undeniable talent of the Jackson brothers — particularly that of Michael — was given plenty of room to shine on this 1970 release.

Mainly remembered for its run of hit singles, the “ABC” album stands up as a whole. Without question, the opening trio of songs (“ABC,” “One More Chance,” “The Love You Save”) are the strongest tracks on the lp, but many forgotten gems are present as well.

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles had the big hit with “I’m the One You Need,” but the Jackson 5 version on “ABC” has its merits — most notably the soaring vocal of a pre-teen Michael Jackson.

Jermaine Jackson turns in a soulful lead vocal on “I Found that Girl,” making the case that the talent in the family was not regulated to his younger brother.

The Jackson 5 story didn’t have a happy ending, but the positive vibes that emanate from the “ABC” album stand as a testament to that moment in time when everything — at least on the surface — was perfect.

Jon Dawson’s album reviews appear every Thursday in The Free Press. Contact Jon at 252-559-1092 or jon.dawson@kinston.com. Purchase Jon’s book, ‘Making Gravy in Public,’ at The Free Press office and at jondawson.com.